BRUSSELS, June 30

Eurozone finance ministers will hold an emergency conference call today to discuss a last-minute proposal by Athens, just hours before Greece’s current bailout expires, Eurogroup Head Jeroen Dijsselbloem said.

“Extraordinary Eurogroup teleconference tonight 19:00 Brussels time to discuss official request of Greek government,” Dutch Finance Minister Dijsselbloem tweeted.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras requested a two-year rescue deal with European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before its international bailout expires later today. Tsipras also requested a short extension to its current bailout programme to avoid a ‘technical default’, with a 1.5 billion euro payment due to IMF in hours.

The call comes three days after the Eurogroup rejected Greece’s request for an extension to its bailout, following the Greek government’s announcement of a referendum on Sunday on reform demands by creditors.

In a statement today, the Greek government said the government ‘remained at the table’ and made a request for a new two-year rescue programme with EU’s bailout fund, European Stability Mechanism. The Greek government has recommended voters vote ‘no’ to reforms demanded by its creditors.